SAGE novel Chapter 48

Sage Miller

I laid awake in my bed thinking. I've been doing a lot of that lately. I've taken up residency in my head as of late.

I haven't been to school in the past two days and today it's the last time I'll skip school. For the next foreseeable future.

Okay, that was Wren's idea not mine. Or more like blackmail from her side.

I get to stay here, in my house not here, as long as I attend all my classes, pass with reasonable marks, and stay the hell out of trouble.

That means no skipping classes, no leaving school early, no more self-proclaimed day off. And no more trouble.

Getting in trouble at school is no longer an option. She made that very clear.

I don't know how I'll do with all these rules after I've lived so long without them. But I want to live here so I'll give it my best.

Being stuck at her house or shipped to Canada to live with grandma isn't ideal for me.

I patted for my phone on the bed until I found it. I opened it only to be greeted by a dozen messages from Kate.

I sighed and sat upright. I decided to text her back before she busted through my doors.

Her head is hot enough. It's something she'd do.

I haven't seen her in two days and I have no idea what she's been up to at school. She probably cheated again.

I gotta get my hands on what she's been up to while I was gone.

But first things first, I'm meeting Wren and her attorney at the courthouse today at 11 then she's coming to my school to talk to the principal.

My phone suddenly vibrated in my hand startling me. I already knew who it was. I groaned and answered it anyway.

"Hello." I deadpanned.

"Don't give me an attitude Sage. I should be the one giving you one." Kate just let it all out. She yelled.

"I'm not giving you an attitude." I rolled my eyes and got out of bed.

I stood a foot away from the bed looking at it. I was debating on whether to make the bed now or later or maybe never.

I ended up deciding on living it the way it is. I was really not in the mood to worry about petty things like making the bed.

It was already 8 am and I wanted to go to the gym to blow off some steam before I met up with Wren later on.

"Like hell you are. Your friends won't tell me anything. What the hell is going on. Three days you haven't been at school. Even when I come to your house Connor won't let me in."

Of course, they wouldn't tell her shit. They don't even like her, not like they ever liked any girl I ever hooked up with.

I've kept both Sebastian and Connor in the loop excluding the gory details and the fact that I'm a murderer.

I'm sure Sebastian won't judge me but I'd like for that detail to never see the light of day.

"Mind your damn tone girl." I snapped. "Whatever is going is none of your damn business. You'll see me when you see me."

She had a neck for getting on my nerves very fast and right now she was vexing me.

"I'm your girlfriend and you'll treat me as such." She argued.

"You can leave if you want." I shrugged ready to end this conversation. Possibly this relationship.

But she would never leave me. Not in this lifetime anyway.

"Damn it, Sage. Is it so bad that I want to see my boyfriend and be treated as your girlfriend?" She asked hurt.

I get her, I do but I don't have the time nor energy for her whiny ass. I have bigger problems and I don't need her to add to the stack.

"Fine, I'll pick you after school and I'll take you to a diner or something," I told her and hang up.

If that wasn't enough for her then too bad.

I was about to put my phone down when I saw a text from Eve.

My heart leaped. Finally, I've been trying to get ahold of her for the past two days. I know she deliberately ignoring my calls and texts.

Seeing a text from her is a relief. I know she needs time to process everything and when she's ready I'll be right here.

However long it may take.

Grandma is coming this weekend, heads up- Eve

I couldn't help but smile. I fumble with my thumbs trying to call her only to be sent straight to voicemail.

Maybe her battery died. I told myself but I knew the truth. She was still avoiding me.

But it was easy pretending that's what happened than acknowledging the truth. The truth hurts.

I took a quick cold shower and went downstairs with my gym bag in hand.

"You not going to school?" Connor asked when I popped my head in the kitchen.

He was making breakfast.

"Yeah I got this thing with Wren today but I'll go tomorrow," I told him and poured myself some juice. "Leave me some."

I pointed at the breakfast he was making. We both knew that I wouldn't make one myself if he didn't so he had to leave some for me.

This was almost a ritual with us.

"Call your girl dude. She's so annoying." Connor whined. "She's the most annoying creature ever created and she looks so damn lost without you. She needs direction."

The relief I felt was unhealthy. At least I know I'm worth something.

"Don't worry, I talked to her. She'll leave you alone." I told him sipping my juice. "Speaking about Kate, what has she been up to the last couple of days?"

It sounded as bad as it did in my head. I was that guy. The jealous type and I couldn't help it. I never liked sharing.

"You mean other than following us around being a nuisance? I mean damn that girl is clingy as hell." He complained.

I was glad he didn't realize what I was doing. I bit my tongue so I wouldn't ask the question I really wanted to ask.

By any chance did she cheat? That's the question I wanted to ask. But I didn't, my pride will never let me.

After I had breakfast I went straight to the gym and worked out for an hour before I took a shower and went to court to meet Wren.

At court, things went smoothly without any hiccups at all. I guess it pays to have money. I was glad.

I was asked a few questions, like if I wanted to stay with Wren and whatnot.

Soon we were sitting in the principal's office and Wren was explaining my situation to the prick.

No doubt I would be getting some kind of special treatment from now on.

I could practically see the dollar sign shimmering in his eyes as he agreed to everything Wren said.

He couldn't even hide that he was eying the check Wren had in her hands that she was giving to the school as a donation.

He knew exactly who Wren is and how much she's worth.

Greedy bastard. I leaned back on the chair and zoned them out. I didn't even see any reason for me to be here.

By the time they were done discussing and Porter agreeing to everything thing Wren said, it was almost time for classes to be over.

I decided I'd wait for Kate and take her to some diner to shut her up.

I turned to Wren when we got to the parking lot.

"School is almost out, I'll wait for my friends if that's okay," I asked her.

It felt so damn weird asking for confirmation from someone. I never had to ask for it. I did as I damn well pleased.

"Girlfriend?" She smiled and I gave her a lazy smile in return. "That's okay, I wanted us to have dinner today but I'm not even sure if Evernly will come home today."

Her shoulders slumped and that got my attention real quick.

"What? Why?"

"We fought this morning." She paused seeming to debate what to say next. "Did you know she has a tattoo or to be exact, several tattoos on her back?"

It took a second to understand and process what she said.

"What?" I yelled very surprisedly. "She does... I mean I didn't know."

"Honestly I'm just worried about her. That boyfriend of hers is not a good influence but if I keep pushing she pushes even harder. I don't know what to do with her."

She sounded so exhausted and tired that my heart bled for her. Eve is so lucky yet she doesn't see it.

And Wren needs to give up on trying to tear her away from Styles. After what he did, I didn't think she'll go back to him but she did. Pushing will only push her into his arms even more.

"Don't worry too much Wren. She is fine and she loves you. She might not show it but she does otherwise she wouldn't be staying at your house. And about the tattoos, I'll speak to her." I assured her.

After all, Eve is partly my responsibility.

"Be a good boy. And remember, you get to stay by yourself if you follow the rules and weekend you come by the house okay?" She told me.

I smiled lightly.

"Yeah, Sundays I'm yours." I joked and she breathed out a laugh.

"I'm not joking Sage. Weekend." She emphasized.

"Okay, Saturdays then."

"I'm serious. The whole weekend, every weekend." She waved me goodbye and her driver opened the door for her and they drove off.

I made it to my car which was in the student parking lot near the gate. I leaned against it and took my phone out to kill time.

I whipped my head around to scan my surroundings. Since this morning I've been having this aching feeling like I'm being watched.

And now that I'm alone in a quiet parking lot the feeling seems to be stronger.

I looked at the roads and cars passed by. Normal cars. A grey sedan passed and I tried to see who was driving but I couldn't.

I tried that with different cars but still, no luck, and every car that passed by didn't give me any weird vibe. They all seem ordinary. Nothing sticks out.

No car stopped or even passed by twice. I couldn't even explain the paranoia I have.

Again, I was startled by my phone vibrating. I took my eyes off the road to focus on my phone.

I don't know who I thought it was but I wasn't expecting her to text me. Not after the last time.

The text was something else entirely.

I need to see you-Alora

No greetings, nothing. I stared at the text like I was expecting it to vanish or waiting for another text which will probably say wrong text.

It never came and five minutes later I was still frozen. Just as I was about to reply with something I would regret the bell rang, signaling the end of yet another school end.